Resilient-wheel.



J. L. HARDEN.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.24, 19.11. I

Patented Feb. 12,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- wikfi ajrdeaz ("Jammy i. L. HARDEN.

RESIL'IENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.24. lsn.

1,256,479. Patented Feb. 12,1918.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J. L. HARDEN.

RESIUENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.24, 1911.

1 ,256,479. Patented Feb. 12,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

A5 Zlwuewi oz LLHABDEN.

'RESILIENT WHEEL.

v APPLICATlON mm 1mm. 1.91!- 1,256,479. Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

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quantity.

JACOB L. HARDEN, OF NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed. January 24, 1917. Serial No. 144,294.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAcoB L. HARDEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of North Platte, in the county of Lincoln and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient l/Vheels, of which the following is a spec fication.

The present invention has reference, generally, to resilient wheels.

It is well known in the art that the usual pneumatic tires, widely adapted for use on vehicles, especially, those of the motor driven type, while affording a certain amount of resiliency to the vehicle, are comparatively weak and unsubstantial by reason of the fabric construction thereof and hence, unsatisfactory, inasmuch as the same become unable to withstand the air pressure therein after use for a period of time, and as a consequence, permit blow-outs and various kindred disabilities, this being par ticularly true when the same are used in country wherein the roads or highways thereof are ill-graded and contain rock in Further, the tires, due to their construction, create considerable friction when the speed of the vehicle upon which they are mounted is increased, and the heat resulting therefrom will cause expansion of the air cushioning means therein. such expansion oftentimes resulting in blowouts, owing to the weakened condition of the fabric construction. I

It is therefore the dominant object of my invention to provide an improved resilient wheel which will obviate the above recited disadvantages,the wheel being so constructed as to render the same capable of absorbing such shocks or jolts delivered thereto during travel of the same. thus. serving to efficiently cushion the veh cle body and pre venting fracturing or distortion of the various elements of the running gear thereof in addition to prevent ng the material jolting of the occupants of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient wheel which can be used as the driving wheel for motor driven vehicles, the same being braced sufficiently to successfully withstand the driving torque delivered there to from the power transmitting gearing of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of cushioning means so positioned as to efficiently absorb shock or vibration in the wheels, the said cushioning means when under tension cooperating to brace each other, thus, insuring proper functioning of the same at all times and also the provision of a strong and durable construction.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be recited, the provision of a wheel of the character mentioned with a view to compactness, and in which the number of parts are few. the construction simple, the cost of production small, and efficiency and operation high.

The invention consists, furthermore, in

the novel arrangements and combinations of the parts of the wheel, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification. and then finally enibodied in the clauses of the claims, which are appended to the specification and which form an essential part of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved wheel;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec tion therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the means for securing the arcuate cushioning spring to the inner rim;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section through the wheel;

Fig. 5 is a similar section showing a slightly modified form;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation de tail in perspective of the inner rim;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the inner rim showing the arrangement of one of the plunger rods therein;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail in elevation with parts thereof broken away showing a slightly modified form of spring mounting; and

Fig. 9 is a'fragnientary side elevation of yet another sli htly modified form of the wheel construction.

S milar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now more specifically to the several figures of the said drawings, my improved wheel may be stated to include the usual hub portion, designated by the nuion meral 1, the hub portion in turn, being provided with a plurality of radially disposed spokes thereabout, which spokes .I have indlcated for the purpose of convenience by the numeral 2. Upon the outer ends of the said spokes 2 and about the same, there is arranged an inner rim 3, the same being provided upon its opposite peripheral faces, with wear compensating metal bands 4 and 5; To secure the wear compensating bands 4 and 5 to their respective rim portions 3,,

any fastening devices may be passed. In addition toformingthe openings within the wear compensatingbands 4L and 5 as well as the rim portion 8,1 form therein in spaced apart relation from said first mentioned openings, longitudinal slots, the purpose of which will be subsequently apparent.

,Asecond orouterrim 6 is arranged about the innerrim 3 in spaced.relationtherefrom and .isprovided with upon its inner periph-v eral face, a Wear compensating band 7 while upon the outer peripheral face'thereof, a tire 8, preferably formed of steel or the like is disposed.

WVith a View toward providing means whereby the outer rim 6 will beresiliently supported upon the inner rim 3 together with its hub and :spoke portions 1 and 2, re spectively, I secure in spaced apart .relation to the inner peripheral surface of the said rim 6, preferablyintermediate their ends, a plurality of arcuate Ileaf springs generally indicated by the numeral v9, the said -.leaf springs being maintainedin fixed relation to the rim 6 through the mediumof a'plurality of connecting .bolts 10, the bolts in turn, passing through suitable alined openings as formed .in the rim portion 6, its wear compensating band 7 and .the arcuate leaf springs 9. It is to be noted, that the opposite extremities-of the leaf springs 9 curve inwardly from the inner peripheral .sur-

' face of the outer rim portion-6 and are pivotally engaged by pairs-of'connecting links 11, the .said connecting .links being apier tured in proximity .ofxtheir lower extremities whereby pivot pins 'or bolts 11' may be passed thcrethrough into engagement with suitable eyes formed by rolling the :opposite extremities of the said arcuatesprings upon themselves. .To secure theremaining orvfree ends of'thelinks 11 to the innerrim portion 3, a plurality of pairs of clamping arms rare arranged about the said rim-3 and as'will .be noted, have their intermediate portions offset. whereby, they will snugly embrace the rim 3. It is to benoted that the offsetpOrtionsof theclampingarms 12 andlS are of a length greater than the thickness of the inner rim 3. Therefore, to secure the same rigidly to thesaid .rim 3, blocks 14 are arrangedupon the under face of the rim 3.in

rim. The'blocks 14 as illustrated in Fig. 3

of the drawings, are shown detached from between the clamping arms 12 and 13, the position of said blocks being illustrated therebetween in dotted lines. With the blocks 14 properly positioned with respect to the rim 3 the clamping arms are applied. Obviously, the blocks will correspond to the length of the offset portions of the said clamping arms, and as a consequence, the same will snugly engage the rim 8. Openings are formed within those portions of the connecting links 11 as in proximity of the blocks lt, whereby pivot bolts 17 may be passed therethrough and through similarly disposed openings formed in the. said blocks 14. Fastening nuts 18 are then turned into engagement with the screw threaded extremities of the bolts 17, to prevent-lateral displacement of the same. Suitable openings are formedin the opposite extremities of the clamping arms 12 and 13 and are adapted to receive therethrough connecting bolts 15 and 16, the said connecting bolts havingturned .into engagement. therewith suitable fastening nuts to prevent displacement of the same. i

In addition to arranging the arcuate leaf springs 9 between the inner and outer rims 3 and 6, a plurality of radially disposed rods or plungers 19 are passed through the same'and are fixedly seated within suitable openings as formed in .the .rim 6. The remaining extremities of the plungers 19.are passed I through certain of the slots formed in the inner rim 3 in spaced relation from those openings through which the wear compensatingband fastening devices re passed, the openings, as .will be noted, being of a length sufficient to permit movement of the plungers 19 when thesides of the outer rim 6 are movedupwardly upon. depression of the same, that is when the rim Fis moved eccentric ofthe hub -1. The plungerrodslll turned into engagement with the ,oppos'itely screw threaded extremities 'of the ;bolt sections. Obviously, by forming the plunger rods 19in sections, thesamemaysbereadily removed when it is desired toreplacecertain of the-active: elements of the wheelconstruc- .tion or to rreplacesections of the rolts in the event of fracturing thereof. Expansible coiled springs 20 are arranged upon portions 'of the. plunger rods 19 and have their adjacent extremities bearing upon the opposite peripheral surfaces of thesaid rimB, specifically, upon the outer faces of the wearcompensating bandsandfi. 'To re- 19, bearing nuts 21 are turned into engagement with the screw threaded extremities thereof and as will be evident, engage the adjacent convolutions of the said springs. Thus, whenthe arcuate leaf springs 9 are flexed by engagement of the wheel, that is, the outer rim 6 with the ground, the springs 20 will act in conjunction with the said springs 9 to efficiently absorb the shock and prevent the transmission thereof to the vehicle upon which the wheel is mounted.

Expansible coiled springs 22 are arranged directly beneath the opposite ends of the arcuate springs 9 and have their lower eX- tremities seated within suitable bores as formed within the rim 6 and also serve as means to cushion such upward thrust as may be imparted to the said rim 6 during its travel over ruts, stones or the like as may be encountered upon a roadway. I desire to have it understood that the expansible springs 22 in addition to serving as means for cushioning the movement of the opposite extremities of the arcuate springs 9 will also serve to prevent undue vibration thereof, as would otherwise occur upon the rebound or return the same to their normal position.

To prevent excessive flexing of the arcuate springs 9 together with the springs 20 as arranged about the various plungers 19, during depression of the outer rim 6, other plunger rods 23 are passed through the remaining slots formed within the inner rim 3 and have arranged about their oppositely projecting ends, expansible springs 24., these springs being maintained in proper position upon their respective portions of the plunger rods 23 by reason of enlarged bearing head portions 25 formed upon the outer extremities of the plunger rods and bearing nuts 26 as turned into the engagement with the inner extremities of the plunger rods. The bearing heads 25 formed upon the outer extremities of the plunger rods 23 are normally arranged in spaced apart relation from the inner face of the wear compensating band 7 arranged upon the inner peripheral surface of the rim 6, but, upon material depression of the said rim, will be caused to be engaged thereby and as a consequence, the springs 24 as arranged upon the outer extremities of thesame will be placed under compression, thus, offering additional resistance to the depression or upward thrust of therim 6 and preventing undue flexing of the arcuate springs 9. Upon rebound or the return of the rim 6 to its normal position with relation to the rim 3, the plungers 23 will of course return to their normal positions also by reason of the springs 24 arranged upon the outer portions thereof. Those springs as arranged upon the upper portions of the plunger rods 23,

obviously, serve to maintain the rounded bearing heads 25 in proper relation to the wear compensating bands 7 and insure proper operation thereof.

In the Fig. 9 I have shown a slightly modified form of my improved resilient or spring wheel wherein, the springs 22 together with the plunger rods 23 and their respective springs 2% are eliminated, the arcuate springs 9 together with the springs 20 arranged upon the plungers 19 serving in this instance as the vibration or shock absorbing means for the wheels. By omitting or eliminating the springs 22 and 2 t from the construction of the wheel, it will be understood that the wheel may be readily adapted for vehicles of less weight, since, should the vehicle not possess sufficient weight to permit the flexing of the various springs or active elements of the wheel construction when the same is subjected to shock or vibration, the resultant jolt there from would not be fully absorbed.

Should it be desired to provide means whereby the springs 22 as arranged beneath the free ends of the arcuate springs 9 may be placed under varying tension, thereby, insuring flexing of the same only when placed under predetermined pressure, I provide a novel means as disclosed in the Fig. 8 wherein, the rim 6 of the vehicle wheel is provided with a plurality of radially disposed bores 28, the said bores being internally screw threaded and having turned into engagement therewith similarly threaded plugs 29, the upper extremities of the said plugs being so shaped as to properly receive the lower convolutions, of the said springs 22 thereupon. \Vith this construction, when it is desired to place the springs 22 under greater or less tension, the screw threaded plugs 29 are adjusted to difl'erent positions within the internally threaded bores 28 accordingly.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious to workers in the art, that I have provided a resilient wheel, which, by reason of its peculiar construction, will etliciently absorb such shock as may be transmitted thereto during its travel over rough or ill-graded roads, and further, by slight adjustment, may be so regulated as to vary the tension of the shock absorbing means, thus, rendering the wheels" particularly adaptable for vehicles carrying loads of difi'erent weights. Furthermore, it is to be noted, that when the outer rim 6 is depressed, thereby, placing those spring or active elements as adjacent the point of engagement, under tension the spring or active elements as arranged upon the wheel at a point diametrically opposite thereto will be placed under tension and hence, will efliciently brace the construction, thereby, preventing undue flexing or cushioning of the said spring or active elements and excessive movement of'the outer rim 6 With *relation' thereto. plungers l 9 by reason of 'their mounting within the elongated-slots formed in the inner-rim portion 3, will be permitted to move sufficiently to allow novementof the side portions of the outer rim 6 Withrelation to the adjacent portionsof the inner rim 3 whilefthe plunger rods 23 illbe-alsoj permitted to shift laterally toprevent'bindring of the same. This the shock absorbing or cushioning operation of the spring or active elements of the Wheel construction Will not be interrupted. y j a a By Varying thepositioning of the bearing nuts-21 upon their respective plungers 1,9,

the tension of the springs 20 arranged about the said plungers 19 maybe varied, and thus, movement of the outer rim 6 toward the inner-rim 3 may be regulated.

the bearing nuts 26 as arranged upon the outer or screw threaded extremities of they plungers 23 may be also-adjusted to vary the tension of the springQt arranged there about. By 4 reason of' theengagement of the plunger rods 19 With-the inner rim 3, it. is

to be appreciatedathat a connection betweenthe inner and outer rims 3. and 6,, respectively, is afforded, thisconnection serving; to permit the Wheel to be eificiently used asv the driving Wheel of motor driVenvehicIes' I am awarethatchangesmay be made in the various arrangements and'combinationsof the parts as Wellas in'thedetails of the construction of the same Without-v departing from the scope of .my-pr'esent invention as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I

outerr-im, aplurality of. arcuate leaf springs interposed between said inner and v outer r1ms,'.sa1d;spr1ngs being fixedly secured n-' termediate-their ends: to the outerrim and having their opposite ends pivotallyfsecured to the inner rim, a plurality of radially, disposed r'o'ds engaged withsaid sprihgs and -SllClRblY'BHgEIgQCl With the inner rim, coiled springs arranged-about portions .of' said rods and bearingon the 1nnerv';r1m,.means engaged vwith said-rodzfor varying the tension of the coiled-springs, a plurality. of plungers slidably carried upon theinner rim, cushioning means on said plungers, and means engage able with saidceushioning means for varying the tension thereof, j 251111 a resilient Wheel, an inner rim, ',an outeliarim, a plurality-ofgarcuate' springs'gim Still further, the Y It will. be also understood in'this connection, that terposed between said inner and outer rims, saidarcuate springs being secured intermediate their ends to the outer rim and pivotally secured therein to the inner rim, ra dially disposed rods carried by said arcuate springs and slidably engaged with the inner rim, expansible coiled springs arranged upon portions of'said rods and bearing on the inner rim, means engagedwith said rods for Varying the tension of said coiled springs, a plurality of radially disposed plunger rods carried by the inner rim and having certain of the ends thereof arranged in spaced apart relation from said outer rim, cushioning means arranged upon portions of said plungers and bearing, upon the 'innerrim, and means engagedwith the plungers for varying the tension of the cushioning means.

3. In a resilient wheehan inner rim,,an outer rim, a plurality of arcuate springs in-. terposed between said inner and outer rims, said arcuate springs being engaged interme-v diate their ends with the outer rim and having their opposite ends piyotally engaged" with the inner rim a plurality" of' radially disposed rods carried by saidarcuate springs and slidably engaged With the inner rim, cushioning means arranged about portions. of said rods and bearing upon the inner'rim, means engaged with said cushioningfmeans for varying the tension thereof. a plurali'ty of radially disposed plungers 'slidablyoarried by the inner-rim and Mariners-min of the ends thereof arranged. in spaiced 'ap'artv relation from, the outer riinf cushioning means arranged about'fpjortibns ,of ."said', plungers, means engaged iv'ith'fsaid? plunger cushioning means forvarvingj the tension, thereof. and" other cushioning means" interposed between the vopposite extremities of the arcuate springs and I theouter rim, 3 as and for the purpose set forth. f r 4. Ina resilient wheel, an inner rim, an outer rim. a p'luralityof arcu'at'efspriiigsin-- ter 'osedbetw'een said inner andou'terrimS said ,arcu'ate sprin gsbei'n'g secured interme: diate. their ends, to the, outer run a'ndliav-V ing their. o ppsiteisnds pi'rotall'y sec'ured, to",

theinner rim, a'ndicoflefd springs arranged between" the opposite ends of said arc'u'ate" springs and the outer ri'm',' fas and] iorthe purposese fforth. V

5'. In a? resilient wiieeli'an inner, an'fouterj rim, a plurality "of" arcuateI I-springsf'"'i'nter posed between 's'aid' inner" and: "outer time said a'rcu'ate? springs'fbeingsecuredintermel d iate; their ends to j theouter rim and having: th cir' opp'osite' ends pivotall'y' seemed; to v the" inner "rim' and arranged} in Spacedapart relation. "fromfthe outer 'rim,f spri "gem ranged betweenthe oppositefendj'sfofi aid arcuate s rings" and. the pater rim. and adjiisting means engaged with the springs; as andi for"thepurposeIset"forth! a ia: a'f 'res'ilientv iwlieel;" anf"(inter-mimea plurality of arcuate springs interposed berods carried by the arcuate springs and slidably engaged with the inner rim, cushioning means arranged about portions of said rods and bearing upon the inner rim, means engaged with said cushioning means for varying the tension thereof, a plurality of plungers carried upon the inner rim and having certain of the ends thereof arranged in spaced apart relation from the outer rim and adapted to be engaged thereby at times,

cushioning means arranged about portions of said plunger-s, and means engaged with said last cushioning means for varying the tension thereof.

7. In a resilient wheel, an inner rim, an outer rim, a plurality of arcuate springs interposed between said inner and outer rims, said arcuate springs being secured intermediate their ends to the outer rim, blocks cir cumferentially spaced on the inner surface of the inner rim, clamping arms carried thereby, and links connecting said arms with the opposite ends of the arcuate springs.

8. In a resilient wheel, an inner rim, an outer rim, a plurality of arcuate springs interposed between said inner and outer rims, said arcuate springs being secured intermediate their ends to the outer rim, blocks circumferentially spaced on the inner surface of the inner rim, clamping arms carried thereby, links connecting said arms with the opposite ends of the arcuate springs, a plurality of radially disposed rods carried by said arcuate springs and slidably engaged with the inner rim, cushioning means arranged about portions of said rods and bearing upon the inner rim, and means engaged with said cushioning means for varying the tension thereof.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

JACOB L. HARDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

